lophophore

A circular or horseshoe-shaped structure of ciliated tentacles located around the mouth of brachiopods, bryozoans, and phoronids that is used to gather food.

In Polyzoa, the oral disk at the free end of the polypide, on which is situated the mouth: so called from the circlet of ciliated tentacles which it bears. See Plumatella.

A pheasant of the genus Lophophorus; the Impeyan pheasant. See cut under Impeyan.

A disk which surrounds the mouth and bears the tentacles of the Bryozoa. See phylactolemata.

A feeding organ of brachiopods, bryozoans and phoronids